'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More
'King James': NJ Lawyer Gets 4½ Years, No Early Release For $2 Million Theft From Family, More 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A once-prominent New Jersey lawyer must spend the next 4½ years in federal prison for swindling a family he represented out of $2 million -- and then, while on pre-trial release, impersonating another attorney in applying for a loan. The family had retained James R. Lisa, 68, of Jersey City, to gather millions that had been moved into offshore bank accounts by relatives decades ago and to resolve any tax issues that arose as a result, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Soon after being retained, Lisa moved more than $6 million back into the United States but told the famil…
NO CHOICE: Ex-Con Who Shot Victims Five Days Apart In Newark Gets 10+ Years, No Early Release NO CHOICE: Ex-Con Who Shot Victims Five Days Apart In Newark Gets 10+ Years, No Early Release
NO Choice: Ex-Con Who Shot Victims Five Days Apart In Newark Gets 10+ Years, No Early Release 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: There’s no trying to present a defense in court when the prosecutors have a video of you shooting someone, as well as the loaded gun you were carrying when they arrested you. So Ex-con Antoine Hawkins, 31, of Newark, took a deal from the government and was formally sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on Friday, May 31, for shooting two victims five days apart in the Brick City in August 2020. Hawkins must serve no less than 10 years of his plea-bargained sentence before he'll be eligible for release because there's no parole in the federal prison system. Surveillance video…
Toddlers, Infants Among Hundreds Of Child Sex Abuse Images In Capital Region Man's Possession Toddlers, Infants Among Hundreds Of Child Sex Abuse Images In Capital Region Man's Possession
Toddlers, Infants Among Hundreds Of Child Sex Abuse Images In Capital Region Man's Possession A 26-year-old man from the region faces years in federal prison after he was caught with hundreds of images depicting child sex abuse. Greene County resident Drew Caswell, of Cairo, pleaded guilty to receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography in Albany federal court on Wednesday, May 29. According to prosecutors, Caswell confessed to using a file-hosting service to download child pornography and then shared numerous photos and videos on X, formerly Twitter. He also admitted to possessing illicit images on his cell phone, including nearly 300 pictures and videos of toddlers…
Fentanyl Dealer Who Rammed Undercover DEA Vehicle In Elizabeth Gets 5 Years, No Early Release Fentanyl Dealer Who Rammed Undercover DEA Vehicle In Elizabeth Gets 5 Years, No Early Release
Fentanyl Dealer Who Rammed Undercover DEA Vehicle In Elizabeth Gets 5 Years, No Early Release 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A fentanyl dealer who rammed a DEA vehicle in a failed attempt to flee a sting in Elizabeth must spend just about five years in federal prison before he'll be eligible for release, authorities said. Miguel Nuñez, 50, and another man were surrounded by Drug Enforcement Administration agents during what they thought would be a fentanyl deal in March 2021, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Philip R. Sellinger said. Nuñez put their vehicle in reverse in an attempt to escape and collided with an agent's car instead, the U.S. attorney said. Nuñez's partner, Jesus Higuera-P…
Kidnappers Who Demanded $680,000 Ransom For Fort Lee Man Get Up To 18 Years Without Release Kidnappers Who Demanded $680,000 Ransom For Fort Lee Man Get Up To 18 Years Without Release
Kidnappers Who Demanded $680,000 Ransom For Fort Lee Man Get Up To 18 Years Without Release 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Four men who kidnapped a Fort Lee man from his home and held him for a $680,000 ransom must serve from 12 to 18 years in federal prison before they'll be eligible for release. The harshest plea-bargained sentence went to Albert Ferrelli, 52, of Queens, who must serve nearly 18 years of a 250-month prison sentence before he'll be eligible for release, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Next was fellow Queens resident Chiahao Lee, 32, who must serve nearly 13 years of a 180-month stretch, the U.S. attorney said. They're followed by Gabriel Anthony, also of Queens, Sellinger…
Trafficker Who Mailed Hundreds Of Pounds Of Coke From PR To South Jersey, Philly Gets 10 Years Trafficker Who Mailed Hundreds Of Pounds Of Coke From PR To South Jersey, Philly Gets 10 Years
Trafficker Who Mailed Hundreds Of Pounds Of Coke From PR To South Jersey, Philly Gets 10 Years 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A manager of a crew that purchased hundreds of pounds of cocaine in Puerto Rico that they shipped to South Jersey and Philadelphia via overnight mail was sentenced to a plea-bargained 10 years in federal prison. Philly resident Jose Gonzalez, 51, and his co-conspirators flew to San Juan on dozens of commercial flights from Philadelphia International Airport, U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Phillip Sellinger said. They paid cash there for multi-kilo quantities of coke, then used overnight delivery from U.S. Post Office branches in San Juan to ship it to various addresses in Philade…
Man Sexually Assaults Paramedic At VA Hospital In Capital Region, Feds Say Man Sexually Assaults Paramedic At VA Hospital In Capital Region, Feds Say
Man Sexually Assaults Paramedic At VA Hospital In Capital Region, Feds Say A man from the region is facing federal charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a paramedic at a Veterans Affairs hospital. Rensselaer County resident Robert Seifert, age 65, of Troy, was arraigned in Albany federal court on Tuesday, April 9. Prosecutors said Seifert grabbed the paramedic’s breast and groin at the Albany Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  It was not immediately clear when the alleged assault occurred. If convicted, he could spend up to two years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine
President Biden Commutes Hudson Valley Woman's Sentence For Selling Cocaine Two New York women convicted of non-violent federal drug offenses are among 16 people nationwide to receive clemency from President Joe Biden. Stacy Wilder, age 49, of Albany, served nearly six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine in the Northern District of New York in January 2003. She received a full pardon from the president. Had she been sentenced under current law and sentencing guidelines, Wilder would have received a significantly lower sentence, the White House said.  Since serving her time, Wilder has worked as a payro…
Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say
Child Porn Charges: Capital Region Man Busted With Illicit Photos, Videos, Feds Say Federal prosecutors are pursuing child pornography charges against a man from the region after he allegedly sent and received numerous illicit images of children.  Taykwun Smoaks, age 32, of Albany, was arraigned on charges that he distributed, received, and possessed child pornography in Albany federal court on Friday, April 12. According to investigators, Smoaks sent and received images and videos of child pornography over the internet between February and March 2023. The illicit images were reportedly found on both his computer and an external hard drive. If convicted, he face…
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images
Capital Region Man Admits Blackmailing Underage Girls Into Sending Sexually Explicit Images Years in federal prison await a man from the region who confessed to blackmailing underage girls into sending him sexually explicit images. Richard Nejame, age 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography in Albany federal court on Thursday, April 11. Prosecutors said Nejame messaged several underage girls on social media apps, including Snapchat, while pretending to be a teenage boy between October 2022 and May 2023. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted that he then convinced the girls to take nude pictures and videos of…
Jilted Lover Who Stalked, Repeatedly Threatened Ex In DC Gets Prison Time Jilted Lover Who Stalked, Repeatedly Threatened Ex In DC Gets Prison Time
Jilted Lover Who Stalked, Repeatedly Threatened Ex In DC Gets Prison Time A District man who terrorized his former partner for years will spend time in federal prison for stalking her and making threats, according to officials. Eddie Tibbs, 34, was sentenced to 73 months in prison for stalking, felony threats, felony destruction of property, misdemeanor destruction of property, and a civil protection order violation following a harrowing ordeal involving his ex, federal authorities announced over the weekend. According to prosecutors, Tibbs and his victim were romantically involved, and their relationship reached its conclusion in 2020, leading to a frighten…
Controller From NJ Who Embezzled $2.37M From Madison Avenue Firm Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen Controller From NJ Who Embezzled $2.37M From Madison Avenue Firm Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen
Controller From NJ Who Embezzled $2.37M From Madison Avenue Firm Gets 27 Months In Fed Pen UPDATE: A controller from Middlesex County was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for embezzling $2.37 million from his Madison Avenue employer. Gerard Beauzile, 63, South Plainfield, conducted an elaborate, long-running scheme to issue bogus checks to himself that he then deposited into his bank account, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. Beginning a decade ago and continuing through the end of 2020, Beauzile admitted issuing 140 checks to himself from the Manhattan-based company, which offers news, analysis, research and data for the "global energy industry," accordin…